The Florida Supreme Court in recent court orders suspended 11 attorneys, including Craig J. Martin of Jacksonville Beach, reprimanded three, accepted the resignation of two attorneys, disbarred one, and placed one attorney on probation.
Martin was suspended from practicing law in Florida for 30 months, effective immediately following a June 17 court order. Upon reinstatement, Martin is further placed on probation for three years. Among several Bar violations, Martin failed to provide competent representation to a client; engaged in conduct in connection with the practice of law that is prejudicial to the administration of justice; and engaged in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit, or misrepresentation.
The other lawyers disciplined are:
• Eduardo Cantera, Miami, suspended on an emergency basis from practicing law in Florida, effective 30 days following a June 11 court order. A review of Cantera’s trust account revealed that there is clear, convincing, and undeniable evidence that he misappropriated funds entrusted to him.
• Richard R. Ellington, West Palm Beach, resigned in lieu of disciplinary proceedings, with leave to seek readmission after five years, effective 30 days following a July 16 court order. Ellington was convicted of mail fraud, a felony, and sentenced on April 23 to four months imprisonment followed by a four month term of home detention and two years of supervised release.
• Jerald Alan Goldstein, Boca Raton, suspended from practicing law in Florida, effective May 17, following an April 20 court order. On Jan. 6, Goldstein pled guilty to one count of Conspiracy to Commit Bank Fraud and one count of Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering and was sentenced to 24 months in prison on each count, to be served concurrently. Goldstein was also placed on supervised release for three years after his release.
• Richard Phillip Greene, Ft. Lauderdale, suspended from practicing law in Florida for three years, effective immediately following an April 1 court order. On Dec. 5, 2003, Greene was convicted of a felony and sentenced to 180 days of home detention, a fine of $10,000, 250 hours of community service, and five years of probation.
• Mary D. Hansen, Port Orange, reprimanded for professional misconduct following an April 29 court order. Hansen failed to provide competent representation to a client; failed to keep a client reasonably informed about the status of a matter and promptly comply with reasonable requests for information; and neglected to explain a matter to the extent reasonably necessary to permit the client to make informed decisions regarding the representation.
• Terrence Leon Laster, Dallas, disbarred from practicing law in Florida, effective immediately following a June 10 court order. Among several Bar violations, Laster failed to provide competent representation to a client; entered into an agreement for, charged, or collected an illegal, prohibited, or clearly excessive fee or cost; and violated the Rules of Professional Conduct, knowingly assisted or induced another to do so, or did so through the acts of another.
• Barry Arnold Mandelkorn, Ft. Lauderdale, reprimanded for professional misconduct following a May 6 court order. Mandelkorn assisted a person who is not a member of the Bar in the performance of activity that constitutes the unlicensed practice of law and participated in offering or made an agreement in which a restriction on the lawyer’s right to practice was part of the settlement of a controversy between private parties.
• Bert Edward Moore, Niceville, placed on emergency probation until further court order, effective immediately following a June 30 court order. A review of Moore’s trust account revealed that there is clear and convincing evidence that he commingled and converted client funds from his trust account.
• Alejandro Muelle, Miami, suspended from practicing law in Florida for two years, effective 30 days following a May 20 court order. Muelle violated Florida Bar Rules Regulating Trust Accounts.
• Scott Lee Richardson, Orlando, suspended from practicing law in Florida for 90 days, effective retroactive to June 25, 2001, following May 13 and June 24 court orders. Richardson is further placed on probation for three years. Richardson committed a criminal act that reflects adversely on the lawyer’s honesty, trustworthiness, or fitness as a lawyer in other respects and engaged in conduct in connection with the practice of law that is prejudicial to the administration of justice. As a condition of his probation, Richardson must actively participate in the programs offered by Florida Lawyers Assistance, Inc.
• David Lawrence Robold, Orlando, reprimanded for professional misconduct following a June 24 court order. Robold is further placed on probation for two years. Among several Bar violations, Robold failed to keep a client reasonably informed about the status of a matter and promptly comply with reasonable requests for information; entered into an agreement for, charged or collected an illegal, prohibited, or clearly excessive fee or cost; and failed to follow minimum trust accounting procedures.
• Roger Rodriguez, Miami Beach, suspended from practicing law in Florida for three years, effective retroactive to Feb. 5, 2003, following a June 24 court order. Upon reinstatement, Rodriguez shall be placed on probation for one year. Among several Bar violations, Rodriguez failed to act with diligence and promptness in representing a client; filed non-meritorious claims and contentions; and failed to provide competent representation to a client.
• Richard Siegmeister, Coconut Grove, suspended from practicing law in Florida for 10 days, effective May 21, following a May 6 court order. Siegmeister is further placed on probation for one year. Among several Bar violations, Siegmeister entered into an agreement for, charged, or collected an illegal, prohibited, or clearly excessive fee; failed to act with reasonable diligence and promptness in representing a client; and violated or attempted to violate the Rules of Professional Conduct, knowingly assisted or induced another to do so, or did so through the acts of another.
• William Henry Stiles, Coral Gables, suspended from practicing law in Florida for 30 days, effective 30 days following a June 24 court order. Stiles is further placed on probation for one year. Among several Bar violations, Stiles was delinquent in paying his membership fees; engaged in misconduct and minor misconduct; and violated or attempted to violate the Rules of Professional Conduct, knowingly assisted or induced another to do so, or did so through the acts of another.
• L. Van Stillman, Delray Beach, resigned in lieu of disciplinary proceedings, without leave to seek readmission, effective 30 days following a May 6 court order. Stillman engaged in ethical misconduct.
• John Weston Wellman, Miami, suspended from practicing law in Florida for 60 days, effective 30 days following an April 8 court order. Among several Bar violations, Wellman failed to act with reasonable diligence and promptness in representing a client; engaged in conduct in connection with the practice of law that is prejudicial to the administration of justice; and violated or attempted to violate the Rules of Professional Conduct, knowingly assisted or induced another to do so, or did so through the acts of another.
• Anthony G. Woodward, Tampa, suspended from practicing law in Florida for 60 days, effective 30 days following an April 15 court order. Woodward engaged in conduct in connection with the practice of law that is prejudicial to the administration of justice and engaged in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit, or misrepresentation.